Veterans Charged With Gun-Running in NYC

BROOKLYN (CN) — Six men, at least three of them military veterans, face federal charges of gun-running.

In a 17-count indictment unsealed Tuesday in Federal Court, the men are accused of conspiring to deal firearms, then lying about it when questioned by authorities.

All men are from Georgia, spanning from Atlanta to Savannah.

Arrested were Marquez Bridges, 26; Micah Isaiah Desuze, 24; Dominique Chanel Fairnot, 26; Jeremy Sanchez; Ashanti Sease-Matthews, 23; and Omar Jermaine Walker, 26.

Prosecutors say the men sold at least 70 guns they bought from stores and gun shows in Georgia between October 2015 and April this year. The guns ended up in New York City and were sold illegally, authorities say.

Sanchez was the most recently arrested, and was to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert Levy in Brooklyn on Wednesday afternoon. His next status conference will be before U.S. District Judge Allyne Ross in the same court.

"We stand committed to stemming the flow of illegal firearms into our community," U.S. Attorney Robert Capers said. "All too often, firearms brought into New York illegally end up in the hands of criminals and result in acts of violence."

Diego Rodriguez, an assistant director-in-charge with the FBI, echoed the sentiment: "Illegal guns most often end up in the hands of criminals who usually don't abide by the laws designed to protect society."

He continued: "A disturbing facet of this case is that several of the subjects were former members of the military, trusted to defend our nation and make it safe. These weapons have made our communities more dangerous."

New York City Police Chief Bill Bratton also had some harsh words: "The department has no tolerance for those who traffic illegal guns into our city."

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